district court

noun

: a trial court that has jurisdiction over certain cases within a specific judicial district

Examples of district court in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

New Mexico district court judge Francis Mathew imposed a $25 billion penalty on Meta today over a state data privacy case that derived from 2018 privacy revelations. — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026

In an unsigned, one-line order, the high court rejected an emergency appeal from the Justice Department asking it to freeze the district court order and revive the new rules. — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Although the Bankruptcy Court and the district court overruled the Department of Justice’s objection, the department later appealed that decision, leading to this week’s settlement. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Paramount's lawyers say lower courts have overwhelmingly rejected other attempts to expand the law’s reach, with district court judges dismissing most cases. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1731, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for district court

• heliport
• nonsupport
• reexport
• teleport
• ultrashort
• abort
• airport
• alport
• athwart
• carport
• comport
• consort

Legal Definition

district court

noun

often capitalized D&C

: a trial court having general or limited jurisdiction in a judicial district: as

a

: one of the federal trial courts sitting in a federal district

b

: a trial court within a state court system